“Roosevelt Island Housing, competition” by O.M. Ungers (1975)

Mariabruna Fabrizi

In 1975, German architect Oswald Mathias Ungers took part in the “Roosevelt Island Housing”, a competition sponsored by the State’s Urban Development Corporation for the planning of a neighborhood on the East River in front of Manhattan. Ungers’ entry is a downsized and simplified Manhattan, adapted to the proportions of Roosevelt Island and with a direct morphological reference to the original. A system of urban villas and towers are distributed on a regular grid. While Manhattan’s streets and avenues are transformed into pedestrian pathways, Manhattan’s original Central Park is directly quoted at the center of the urban scheme for a system of public spaces and a swimming pool. Each housing block (60 by 120 feet) hosts from 25 to 35 apartments for different incomes.

Max Guther is a German illustrator who constructs imaginary worlds through axonometric projections. His images usually depict details from urban views or building corners. While appearing realistic at a first glance, they suddenly reveal their digital fabrication, mostly executed through 3D and Photoshop and a palette of pastel colors.

The angles of view and the use of visual tricks to reveal the interior of the constructed realities echoes classic video-game interfaces such as the ones of SimCity or The Sims. Realistically portrayed human figures inhabit the scenes while engaging in mundane activities, paradoxically conferring the scenes a surreal vibe.

Illustrations for Space 10’s lecture series ’Designing for Shared Living’: